AUSTRALIAN STORY

2005

Peter Andrews is a racehorse breeder and farmer credited with remarkable success in converting degraded, salt-ravaged properties into fertile, drought-resistant pastures. His methods are so at odds with conventional scientific wisdom, that for 30 years he has been dismissed and ridiculed as a madman. He has faced bankruptcy and family break-up.

But now, at a minute to midnight, leading politicians, international scientists and businessmen are beating a path to his door as they grapple with how best to alleviate the affects of drought on the Australian landscape.

Described as a man who reads and understands the Australian landscape better than most scientists, supporters of Peter Andrews claim he has done what no scientist ever thought to do – he has restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. The startling results of his ‘natural sequence farming’ are said to have been achieved very cheaply, simply and quickly.

Retailer Gerry Harvey has become a committed backer and has recruited Andrews to work on his own horse stud in the Widden Valley. Businessman Richard Pratt is also getting involved.

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson has become a convert. And now a number of leading national and international scientists hail Andrews as a ‘prophet’ who should be listened to.

Last week Australian Story introduced audiences to racehorse breeder and farmer Peter Andrews, who has had extraordinary success in converting degraded, salt-ravaged properties into fertile, drought-resistant pastures. His methods are so at odds with conventional scientific wisdom, that for 30 years he’s been dismissed and ridiculed as a madman.

In this week’s concluding episode, eminent national and international scientists agree that Peter Andrews potentially has the solution to alleviating the affects of drought on many parts of the Australian landscape. New research on the property of retailer and Andrews backer Gerry Harvey in the Widden Valley confirms that Peter Andrews’ ‘natural sequence farming’ is achieving startling results very cheaply, simply and quickly.

Supporters of Peter Andrews say he has done what no scientist ever thought to do – he’s restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. As the evidence mounts to support Peter Andrews’ theories, committed backers such as Harvey, businessman Richard Pratt and Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson are working to harness and apply his knowledge as Australia faces the driest period on record.

Vindication has come at last for Peter Andrews, but it’s come at a high personal cost.

There will also be an online forum at the conclusion of the program to discuss more of the scientific aspects of natural sequence farming.

AUSTRALIAN STORY

2009

Four years ago Australian Story featured a farmer and horse breeder called Peter Andrews who seemed to have a rare ability to transform degraded Australian landscapes into thriving oases.

He called it natural sequence farming and it was producing some spectacular results. But for nearly thirty years, Peter Andrews’ work was rejected by scientists, bureaucrats and politicians alike until the evidence became difficult to ignore.

The Australian Story episodes on Peter Andrews, generated unprecedented viewer response.

Now some very influential and highly placed Australians have rallied to his cause and the scientific evidence and international interest are building as well.

The result has been some significant progress but some of the same frustrations.

One Reply to “Video Gallery”

Have just viewed this and cant understand why we dont do the same on a smaller scale in domestic gardens. I would love to learn more about land management. I have a domestic block in bayside melbourne.